Below is my transcript of the Will of Sir James Edwards who was Lord Mayor of London. Elizabeth Hanley is mentioned in this will as being the daughter of William the brother of Sir James. At the bottom of this page is an image of the document, which is a copy of the original Will together with some notes on the contents of the Will and details of the Edwards family found on line. According to these notes William was an officer in the army of Charles I and he lost his life and subsequently his lands in the civil war. James' father and therefore William's father and Elizabeth's paternal grandfather was John Edwards of Garton Yorkshire.

In the transcript I have used — to denote a word I was not able to read and ? at the end of words I was unsure of or words that are incomplete. I have tried to use capital letters where they are used in the document and retain the spelling in the original document. As you can see document contains no punctuation and so, for ease of reading, I have separated each section into a new paragraph. I have not included the Probatum section at the beginning which is in latin.

In the name of God Amen this Thirtieth Day of December Anno Dm one Thousand six Hundred Ninety and in the second year of the Reigne of our Sovreigne Lord and Lady William and Mary by the Grace of God King and Queen of England Scotland France (note 1) and Ireland defenders of the faith etc. I Sir James Edwards of the city of London Knt being now infirm of body but of sound and perfect mind and memory praysed be God soe make and ordaine this my last will and testament in manner following first and principally — and yield up? my soul into the hands of Almighty God my mercifull Creator not doubting but in that — of Life — — Blood of my dear saviour the spots and staines of my Sinfull life shall be wafted Away and my soule presented in the Robes of his most perfect Righteousness Unto my Heavenly father my Body I commit To the Earth in hopes of a joyfull Resurection to  bee decently buried  at the discretion of my Executors And for — — which it hath pleased god to vouchsafe mee in this life. I give and dispose the same as followeth?

First I Will that all — debts as I shall owe at the time of my decease shall be payd with all — speed And after — made of my sayd debts and of the sum of one thousand pounds — — give and allow for my Funeral charges mourneing to Relations and Acquaintance and other expenses to be had at my interment

I give and bequeath unto the sonnes and daughters of my brother Francis Edwards deceased Two hundred pounds apeece?

Item I Give unto the daughter of Alice Myers deceased Two hundred and fifty pounds att the attainment of her Age of twenty and one years or day of marriage which shall first happen

And to the several children of Ann Taylor deceased Two Hundred pounds apeece att their respective Ages of twenty and one years or days of marriage first happening and if any of the sayd children of the sayd Anne Taylor shall depart life before this sayd Age or marrying then I give the Legacy of him or her soe dying to the Survivours And Survivour of them Att their sayd Age or Marriage which sayd Ann Taylor and Alice Myers were the Daughters of my Sister Dorothy H? deceased

Item I give unto all and every of the children of James Edwards sone of my brother William Edwards — which shall be liveing att the time of my decease Five Hundred pounds apiece att their attainment of the Age of Twenty and one years or dayes of marriage which shall first resectively happen and if any of them the sayd children of the sayed James Edwards shall depart this life before their sayd Age or Marriage then I give the sayd Legacy of him or her soe dying to the Survivours And Survivour of them by equal portions

And I doe give unto Elizabeth Hanley one of the daughters of my sayd brother William Edwards Two Hundred pounds

 Item I give unto William Swales son of my brother in law William Swales  Two hundred pounds

 And unto Martha Newlove and Mary Wise daughters of my sayd brother in law William Swales Two Hundred pounds apeece 

And unto all and every the children of Elizabeth Norden deceased one other of the daughters of my sayd Brother in law William Swales within six months next after my decease Two Hundred pounds apeece?

 Item I give unto the sonne or Daughter of John Edwards sonne  of my brother Francis Edwards which he now hath by Elizabeth his wife which sayd Elizabeth was the daughter of Richard Perkins? of Ball? in the Kingdom  of Ireland Two Hundred pounds

Item I give unto all and every of the Grandchildren Decended from all and every of my brothers and sisters which sayd Grandchildren are not herein mentioned or named One Hundred and Fifty pounds at the attainment of the Age of twenty and one years or day of marriage first happening Except the childe or children  of the sayd John Edwards which he now hath or shall have by the sayd  Elizabeth his sayd wife or by any other wife or woman whatsoever and I doe remitt and forgive unto all and every of my Brothers and Sisters and Sisters Husbands and Brothers and Sisters children their Executors and Administrators all and every such sume and sumes of money as — or any of them shall owe unto me att the time of my decease

Item I doe order unto my sister in law Mrs Ann Hoskins twenty pounds for mourneing  Out of the money herein before —  for my Funerall and doe also give unto her twenty shillings for a Ring (note 2)

Item I doe give unto Mrs Mary Wood Widow One Hundred pounds

Item I doe give unto Dame Ann Hoskins wife of Sir William Hoskins of Oxsted in the county of Surry One Hundred pounds

Item I give unto the daughter of Sir Richard Wiseman of Torrill Hall in the county of Essex by Elizabeth his late wife and daughter of John Towse Alderman of London my late master deceased One Hundred pounds which sayd Three last Legacyes are in gratitude for — by — — in my Education from their Fathers my late good masters.

Item I doe give out of the money before mentioned to bee  expended in my Funerall unto the sayd Mrs Marie Wood for mourneing Twenty pounds To the sayd Dame Anne Hoskings for mourneing Twenty pounds and unto the daughter of Sir Richard Wiseman by Elizabeth his sayd wife deceased for mourneing Twenty pounds.

Item I doe give unto my Couzen Roger Wood One Hundred pounds and out of the money before herein mentioned to be expended in my Funerall  Tenn Pound for mourneing

Item I give unto my loveing Friends Mr Thomas Evans and Mrs Elizabeth Langstone widow of Henry Langstone deceased five pounds apeece

Item I give unto Mr Samuel Opowell? Twenty pounds and out of the money before herein mentioned to be expended in my Funeral Tenn Pounds for mourneing

Item I give unto my Couzen Elizabeth Kentish? out of the money before herein mentioned to be expended in my Funerall Twenty pounds for mourneing and Twenty shillings for a Ring

Item I give unto the youngest? Daughter of Mr — Goodfellow Forty shillings to buy her a Ring

Item I give unto Mrs Elizabeth Gore? House keeper of the East India House London Forty shillings for a Ring and to Elizaneth her daughter Twenty shillings for a Ring

Item I give to such my meniall Servants that shall bee living with mee att the time of my decease Twenty pounds apeece other then? Mrs Edwards my late wives woman and such Chaplaine as I shall have att my decease And I doe give unto the sayd Mrs Edwards One hundred and Fifty pounds and unto such Chaplaine as I shall have att my decease Tenn pounds

Item I give unto Sarah Arniston daughter of Mr John Thurleby? Deceased Forty shillings for a Ring

Item I give unto Henry Crispe Two Thousand pounds and to William Crispe One Thousand and Five Hundred pounds being the Two sonnes of my late wife by Henry Crispe her former Husband

Item I give unto William Fashion one Hundred pounds and out of the money  before herein mentioned to be expended in my Funeral to him and his wife Twenty pounds apeece for mourneing

Item I give for and towards the Rebuilding of the Cathedral Church of St Pauls London Two Hundred pounds to be payd within one yeare next  after my decease unto the Treasurer for the time being appointed for the Receipt of money towards building the said Church

Item I give unto the company of Grocers whereof I am a member One Hundred pounds towards payment of their debts having already given them Three Hundred pounds towards finishing of their Hall

Item I give unto St Bartholomew Hospitall London whereof I am a member unto Three Hundred pounds they Have already had One Thousand pounds more to bee payd unto the Treasurer of the sayd Hospitall for the time being within one yeare next after my decease

Item I give unto Christ Hospitall London Five Hundred pounds  to bee paid unto the Treasurer  of the said Hospitall time being within one yeare next  after my decease

Item I give unto the Hospitall of Bridewell and Bethlem in London Two Hundred and Fity pounds and unto the Hospitall of St Thomas in Soutrhwarke One Hundred and Fifty pounds  

Whereas I have right and Title of in and unto severall Lands Tenements and Hereditaments in the Kingdom of Ireland I doe hereby give the sayd Lands Tenements and Hereditaments(note 3) and all my right Title claime and demand whatsoever therein unto the sayd Henry Crispe and William Crispe their Heirs and Assignes forever

Item I doe give unto the Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading into the East Indies and to their successors the sume of Three Hundred pounds to bee by them placed to the Accompt of the Companies Almes House att Poplar as an — to the present R? of the sayd Almes House and to bee employed for and towards the maintenance of such — Marriners and Seamen as shall have served in the Companyes shipping in the East Indies and are then maimed or otherwise disabled from getting their livelihood

Item I give One Hundred pounds to and amongst the widdows of Twenty poore minsters such whoe were in their list time? in Orders of the Church of England and lived in conformity to the same Church as by Law established as my Executors shall — — by Five pounds apeece

Item  I give Three Hundred pounds unto the Prisons of Newgate and Ludgate and the two Compters in London to discharge Poore Prisoners for Debt whose Debts and Fees  exceed not Ten pounds to be payd and distributed by my Executors at the discretion of the Lord Mayor and the — senior Aldermen of the City of London for the time being

And whereas I am seized and possessed of and in severall Freehold and Coppyhold — Messuages(note 4) Lands Tennements and Hereditaments with thappurtences(note 5) in the County of Sussex and have Right and Title of — — and Inheritances of other Messuages Lands Tennements and Hereditaments with thappurtences In the sayd County of Sussex I doe give all and every the sayd Messuages Lands Tennements and Hereditaments with thappurtences In the sayd County of Sussex and all my Rights and Titles of in and unto the same unto my Brother Michael Edwards and my Nephew James Edwards sonne of my brother William Edwards deceased their H? And Assigne forever to the intent that they the sayd Michael Edwards and James Edwards or the Survivour of them or the Heirs of such survivour soe as conveinently may be — all and every the sayd Messuages Lands Tennements and Hereditaments with thappurtences for the best advantage and the money soe raised by such sale deducting such costs and charges as there shall bee att and expend Togoe? and bee for and towards the executon? of this? my Will

Item I give out of the money before herein mentioned to bee expended? In my Funerall unto the minister for preaching my Funerall Sermon and for mourneing Twenty pounds

The rest Residue and Remainder of all and every the goods Chattells ready money Jewells Plate and Estate whatsoever — the sayd Sir James Edwards not herein given or bequeathed I give and bequeath unto my sayd Brother Michael Edwards and my sayd Nephew James Edwards sonne of my sayd Brother William Edwards deceased in equal portions share and share alike And I doe hereby make ordaine and appoint my sayd Brother Michael Edwards and my sayd Nephew James Edwards to be Executors of this my last Will and Testament And I doe desire my sayd Brother Michael Edwards and Nephew James Edwards to bee at all times assisting and helpeing  such of my poore Relations which may be in want or —

In witnesse whereof I the sayd Sir James Edwards have to this my last will and Testament — — Seaven Sheets and this parte of a sheete of paper have sett my hand to every sheete and my Seale to the whole and — The day and yeare first above written Renouncing all former Wills and Testaments by mee made and Will that this bee my last Will and Testament Ja Edwards signed sealed published and — by the sayd Sir James Edwards to bee his last Will and Testament this Thirtyeth day of December One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety in the presence of Mary Edwards Peter Laughton William Fashion Sir?

 

Notes found online:-

From The City Of London & The Slave Trade Part 3

Sir James Edwards (died 1690/1). Elected to the Court of Aldermen 1669. He is described in the MS. account of the Aldermen of 1672 as ‘a bold stoute man, furnished with honest loyall principles, a man of good understanding and as good a resolution: he is like to prove a very usefull person in the cittie, especially if he would but come and live there.’ His entry in Rulers of London makes it clear this Lord Mayor of London (1678) was a director of the Royal Africa Company (RAC), and also on the Merchant Committee of the East India Company (EIC): “Co Co Cheap, 1652-60 Ald Candlewick, 10 Jun 1669-11 Jan 1685/6 surrendered (1) St Mary Colechurch, 1652, 1660, Islington, Middx, 1677, St Michael Bassishaw, 1690 (2) GR, appr, 1637, to Ald John Towse, W, 1667, M, 1680 (3) d Feb 1690/1, bur Guild Hall Chapel (4) Will PCC 52 Vere pr, 5 Mar 1690/1 f John Edwards of Garton, Yorks, yeo, mar Elizabeth, da of Anthony Biddulph of St Alban Wood Street, wid of Henry Crisp (5) Merchant Comm EIC, 1651-7, 1659-60, 1665-6, 1667-8, 1675-9, 1680-90/1, Dep Gov, 1676-8 Assis RAC, 1676 (6) £15,500 in EIC stock Lent Charles II £30,000 when in exile Legacies of £3,700 to charities (7) Land Suss, Ireland (8) Kt, 5 Nov 1670 Sheriff, 1669-70, LM, 1678 (1) Col Green Regt, 1680-7, Commsr for Lieut, 1681, 1688 Tory (9) Bro-in-law of Robert BIDDULPH and of Richard CHIVERTON Heir, neph Sir James Edwards of York, Bt Sheriff of Norf, 1695, Gentleman of Privy Chamber (10)” As can be seen from the reference to Edwards’ 1637 entry in their apprentice register, he was a member of the Grocers’ Company (one of the “Great Twelve” companies -and if extant tree-line of him exist, the Grocers’ Hall is a likely place to find one). At the time of writing this Sir James Edwards doesn’t have a Wikipedia entry. He is listed by Davies and since Woodhead used Davies as a source, it isn’t surprising the information both offer matches although the latter adds to what is found in the index and the page 159 footnote in the earlier work. Woodhead isn’t mentioned by Pettigrew and so it appears he didn’t use him as a source – but Freedom’s Debt draws on Davies and no doubt this is why Sir James Edwards’ name is also found on the RAC directors list there.

Extract from Burk’s A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies of England

William EDWARDS, esq. of an ancient Welsh family, settled in Yorkshire, where he possessed about six hundred pounds a-year, and served as lieutenantcolonel in the civil wars under King CHARLES I. wherein he lost bis life, and his lands fell into the hands of sequestrators. He m. the sister (or aunt) of Sir Solomon Swale, of Swale Dale, in the county of York, but does not appear to have had issue(note 6). His brother, Sir JAMES EDWARDS, knt. was lord mayor of London in 1679, and lent King CHARLES II. thirty thousand pounds while that prince was in exile at Breda, which debt was honourably discharged after the restoration, when he received the honour of knighthood. He d. s. p. 13th February, 1690, was buried at Guildhall Chapel, London, and s. by his nephew

1. James EDWARDS, esq. who was created a BARONET 7th December, 1691. Sir James was of Reedham Hall, in Norfolk, of which county he was sheriff in 1696; he was also gentleman of the privy-chamber to the king. He m.first, a daughter of Mr. Alderman Wright, of York, and had JAMES, his successor. He wedded, secondly, Miss Howell, of Hackney, and by that lady hadNATHAN IEL, in holy orders, heir to his brother, Meriel. ELLYS, OF WYHAM. Sarah. Catherine. Jane. Sir James dying in March, 1702, was s. by his elder son,

11. Sir James EDWARDS, bart. F.R.S. who m. in 1718, Mary, only daughter and heir of Matthew Kirby, D.D. of Walton-upon-Thames, by whom (who d. 31st October, 1739,) he had no issue. He d. in 1744, and was s. by his half-brother,

II(I). SIR NATHANIEL EDWARDS, bart. clerk, vicar of Weybridge, in Surrey, who died unm. 10th March, 1764, when the BARONETCY became EXTINCT.

Note 1 The joint style of William III and Mary II was "William and Mary, by the Grace of God, King and Queen of England, France and Ireland, Defenders of the Faith, etc." when they ascended the Throne. (The claim to France was only nominal, and had been asserted by every English King since Edward III, regardless of the amount of French territory actually controlled,

Note 2 There was a practise sometimes found in the Wills in the 17^th century  of leaving money to close friends and relatives for them to purchase mourning rings and other mourning jewellery.

Note 3 Hereditaments - An item of property that can be inherited.

Note 4 Messuage - a dwelling house with outbuildings and land assigned to its use.

Note 5 Thapurtences - the appurtenances. Apurtenances can be such things as a fence, or a shed that are all fixed to the land. The term can also be used to describe the acreage behind a home, the plot of land, or the backyard etc. In other words the fixtures and lands viewed as being part of the property.

Note 6 Clearly from the Will above William had Daughters and a Son. James did not have issue and was succeeded by William’s son James the brother or half brother of Elizabeth Hanley.